IBCA all-star has foot in door

Saturday

Hank Mathews would rather not tell the real story of how he broke the fifth metatarsal bone in his right foot.

“When people ask how I did it, I tell them I was playing baseball,” said the recent Limestone graduate.

Close, but not quite. But however the injury occurred, it will keep Mathews out of the lineup for the Illinois Basketball Coaches Association All-Star Games on Saturday at the Shirk Center in Bloomington.

Although he can’t play, Mathews plans to participate in every part of the weekend other than the game.

Hank Mathews would rather not tell the real story of how he broke the fifth metatarsal bone in his right foot.

“When people ask how I did it, I tell them I was playing baseball,” said the recent Limestone graduate.

Close, but not quite. But however the injury occurred, it will keep Mathews out of the lineup for the Illinois Basketball Coaches Association All-Star Games on Saturday at the Shirk Center in Bloomington.

Although he can’t play, Mathews plans to participate in every part of the weekend other than the game.

“I called my doctor and asked him if I would be able to play and he said it’s probably not worth it,” said Mathews. “But I talked to Mr. (Chuck) Rolinski, the director of the IBCA, and they want me to come down and be a part of everything and get my jersey and shoes and be on the team and take in the whole experience. But I’m not going to play because it’s just one of those things where you have to look at the big picture.”

Mathews accepted a scholarship to play basketball at Truman State, so that picture is pretty big.

“I’ll get a great education and have the opportunity to play right away,” said Mathews.

Now about that broken bone.

“It was playing ping pong,” said Mathews, though the problem actually began months earlier.

“Before our (basketball) supersectional game in practice, I rolled my foot,” he said. “I just iced it. It bothered me a little bit at state but not too bad.”

But during baseball season, Mathews was playing ping pong on a table set up in the locker room.

“I had a really good serve and I went off the table to get it and I wasn’t wearing any shoes and my foot just rolled over,” he said. “I knew right away when I did it. My doctor said it was already stress fractured and it was going to happen sooner or later. I just wish it would have been when I was running out a ball or something and not playing ping pong.”

Mathews was on crutches for about six weeks and is now in a walking boot and rehabbing.

“I can still shoot and lift weights,” he said. “I’m looking for full release July 14 or 15.”

Being around the basketball all-stars this weekend and not being able to play will be difficult for the competitive Mathews. He’ll cheer for Pekin star — and fellow Mid-Illini athlete — Nathan Taphorn, who will play on the Class 3A/4A South with Jens Soderholm of LaSalle-Peru.

Class 1A/2A from the Journal Star area all-stars are Brady Sanders of Fieldcrest, Jared McCunn of Eureka, Brody Gronewald of Illini West, JS player of the year Jared Entwistle of Illini Central and Bodee Schlipf of El Paso-Gridley.

“It’s going to stink not being able to be out there and play with the guys,” Mathews said. “I know most of them from AAU.”

But he even though he can’t play, he wouldn’t have missed the experience.

“This is what you work for, as an individual, to be able to play in games like these, so it’s definitely an honor to be chosen,” he said. “I wouldn’t want to miss it. I’m very excited to be able to be a part of it.”

Jane Miller can be reachedat 686-3207 or jmiller@pjstar.com.

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